JPS6246415B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an opening that is covered with a length of tape that is manually removable to expose the opening so that the contents of the container to which the container end assembly is attached may be removed. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a container end assembly of the type described above for use in cans containing contents under pressure, such as carbonated beverages.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,603 discloses a container end having an opening, a tape extending around the opening and adhered to an outer surface of the container end, and a tape extending around the opening and bonded to the outer surface of the container end. a sheet adhered to an inner surface of the end, the sheet being adhered to the tape through the opening. The assembly includes a tape and a sheet adhered to the tape so that the assembly can be used to seal a pressurized container, such as a can containing carbonated water or beer, and to remove the contents of the container. The properties for each component are described so that the part can be manually peeled off over the opening.

Although the container end assembly of US Pat. No. 3,990,603 provides a strong seal for carbonated beverages, it has certain problems in manufacture and use that should preferably be eliminated.

First, to eliminate the possibility of the user completely peeling the tape off the container edge and scattering the tape, a stronger adhesive than that used to adhere the tape over the opening is required. It was necessary to use an agent between one end of the tape and the end of the container.
The use of this stronger adhesive creates manufacturing problems and increases the cost of the container end assembly.

Second, the tape has sufficient elastic energy so that, after being peeled off over the opening, it will protrude outward from the container edge unless manually pressed and will interfere with the face of the person drinking from the container. Make contact so that

The present invention provides a container end assembly suitable for use in pressurized containers, the assembly having a tape adhered to its outer surface that is peelable to open a hole in the assembly. an edge, the tape remains firmly adhered to the container edge after peeling the tape with the same adhesive used to adhere the tape over the hole, and the tape remains firmly adhered to the container edge after peeling; The tape is held close to the end of the container to prevent it from getting in the way of the drinker through the holes.

According to the invention, the container end has an opening therethrough, and a tape that surrounds and completely covers the opening and is adhered to the outer surface of the container, the tape being adjacent to one side of the opening. The ends of the
A container end of a type having a tab configured for manual engagement, the tape being configured to be peelable over the opening by manually pulling the tab over the tape. An assembly is provided. However, the novel container end assembly of the present invention
a container end of flexible sheet material that undergoes permanent deformation when bent significantly, the container end having a cut defining an openable hole in the container end assembly along at least a portion of the opening; It has a department. The container end also includes a tongue portion that projects between opposite sides of the cutting portion toward the tab of the tape;
Attached to the tape and foldable with the tape, permanent deformation occurs upon peeling of the tape over the opening, keeping the peeled tape close to the edge of the container, causing the tape to form a curved tongue. Adhesion in shear between the sections prevents separation of the tape from the container edges.

It is further believed that the tongue acts to prevent bulging of the tape over the opening due to pressure within the container to which the container end assembly is attached;
It allows the use of elongated holes of substantially uniform width, thereby providing ease of drinking liquid through the holes. Preferably, the tongue remains adhered to the tape when folded;
This is because the large end part of the tongue forms a large adhesion force between the tape and the end part, and it is first glued onto the cut part of the inner surface of the container end and then through the opening. for the part of the sheet that is adhered to the adjacent surface of the tape, which part is separated along the cut and held together with the tape sandwiching the tongue between it and the part when the tape is removed. Ru. Also preferably, the portion of the tongue between its terminal portion and the end near the center has a narrower width than its terminal portion so that it can be easily bent with the tape.

In contrast, the entire tongue is sufficiently narrow in width so that it can be easily bent with the tape, but the terminal portion of the tongue is rigid and rigid, which is fixed between the terminal portion and the sheet. The tongue may be attached to the tape via the pad or the tongue may have a large end portion having a uniform width along its length, with a portion of the tongue being attached to the end of the tongue to facilitate bending. It may have a reduced thickness between the section and the end near the center.

Also preferably, the can end has a vent hole generally centrally covered by the tape of the tape closure so that the tape evacuates gas from the can without creating a spray of liquid. It is first opened when it is peeled off.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, where like parts are numbered similarly throughout.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, one embodiment of the container end assembly of the present invention, generally designated 10, is illustrated.

The container end assembly 10 is made of a flexible sheet material or metal (e.g., 0.33 mm thick single reduction tin-free steel) that undergoes permanent deformation when significantly bent.
a circular flange 14 made of
The container end 12 (shown clearly in FIG. 3) has a container end 12 (shown clearly in FIG. 3). Moreover, the can end 12 is
a generally U-shaped cut 16 having a necked tongue (referred to herein as tongue 18) 18 defining three sides of the openable hole of the container end assembly 10;
The tongue 18 has an enlarged end portion 22 and a narrow neck 20 between the end portion 22 and the central or attachment end. The tongue piece 18 is
The can end 12 is connected between the sides facing the base of the U-shaped cut 16.
protrudes approximately radially outward. tape 24
is adhered to the outer surface of the can end 12 in a position that completely surrounds the cut 16. Adjacent to the base of U-shaped cut 16 (i.e., adjacent to flange 14)
The end of the tape 24 is not adhered to the can end 12;
It has a tab or loop 26 formed for finger engagement and glued to the end.

Also, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,603 (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference):
Container end assembly 10 includes a thin transparent sheet 34 of polymeric material that surrounds opening 16 and is firmly adhered to the inner surface of canister end 12 completely. Portions of sheet 34 are adhered to opposite adjacent surfaces of tape 24 around the top of tongue 18 through the opening in can end 12 between cut 16 and tongue 18 .
This inner sheet 34 can act to protect the edge of the can along the cut 16 and tongue 18 from the contents of the container (this is because the above-average plating of the can edge 12 is in this area). (which could be important if the contents of the can were to chemically react with the unplated metal of the can end 12).

Removal of tape 24 from cut 16 (as would be done to open a can with end assembly 10 attached) is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7. The tabs 26 are finger-engaged and are attached to the can end 1 starting from the end of the tape 24 adjacent the base of the U-cut 16.
The tape 24 is pulled back over the adhesive portion to initiate peeling of the tape 24 from the tape 24. Sheet 34 is configured to be separated along the edges of opening 16, so that the portions adhered to tongue 18 and tape 24 are removed when tape 24 is peeled off. When the portion of tape 24 to be peeled lines up with the side of terminal portion 22 of tongue 18, adhesive engagement of tape 24 with a large surface of terminal portion 22 of the tongue and portions of tape 24 and sheet 34 occur. The clamping of the end portion 22 between provides a means for attaching the end portion 22 to the tape and thus
remains attached to the tape 24 and is lifted up with the tape, while the neck 20 of the tongue 18
is bent along with the tape to be peeled off (6th
figure). Opening of the container end assembly is completed when the portion of tape 24 that is peeled reaches the central or attached end of the tongue 18, at which time substantially the entire tongue 18 has been removed. The tape 24 protrudes away from the opening 16 in close proximity to the outer surface of the can end 12 and undergoes permanent deformation so as to retain the majority of the peeled tape 24 therebetween; do not protrude a large distance perpendicular to the outer surface of the
Further, when the tab 26 is pulled further, the tongue piece and the tape 2
4 is in shear, the tape cannot be easily pulled away from the tongue 18 and therefore separation of the tape 24 from the can end 12 is limited.

In other words, like the tape that has been peeled off,
By pulling one end of the tape away from the article in a direction approximately perpendicular to the surface of the article, only a portion of the adhesive bond between the surface of the article and the tape from which the tape is being removed is severed at any given moment. To separate the tape from the surface of the article when attempting to separate the tape from the surface of the article by pulling the tape in a direction parallel to the surface of the article to which it is attached so that the adhesive is sheared. requires simultaneous separation of all adhesive bonds between the tape and the surface of the article. In this way, pulling one end of the tape in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the item to remove it is far more effective than pulling one end of the tape in a direction parallel to the surface of the item and removing the tape in a shear state. It's easy. Also, loop 2
6 provides an effective grip to peel the tape from the cut 16 and is designed to break before it can transmit sufficient force to pull the tape from the curved tongue 18, providing an ineffective grip. It is constructed to have a strong strength.

As shown in FIG. 1, the neck 20 of the tongue 18 preferably increases in width toward its attachment end. After repeatedly bending this back and forth, the tape 24
by completely peeling off the can end 12 from the can end 12.
This makes it more difficult to break the tongue 18 from the rest of the 2. The opening 16 preferably has a large radius adjacent the attachment point of the tongue 18 in the area indicated at 30, so as to limit stress concentrations that could cause the can end 12 to break due to the internal pressure of the can. are doing. Additionally, the edges of the terminal portion 22 are preferably arranged at the adjacent edges of the opening 16 such that lifting of the tongue 18 due to pressure within the can limits any peeling action that may be exerted on adjacent adhesive portions of the tape 24. Move away from the edge.

Further, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,603, the cut 16 preferably includes a relatively narrow arcuate portion 3 extending toward the flange 14 of the can end 12.
It has 2. Portion 32 is the first portion of cut 16 that opens when tape 24 is peeled off, and when this occurs there is a small pressure relief hole that allows for safe and relatively quiet removal of pressure from the interior of the container. is formed.

An example of a container end assembly of the type shown in FIGS. 1-5 will now be described.

A 0.033 cm thick single reduced tinless steel No. 209 steel can end 12 is mold formed with a generally U-shaped cut 16 and an opening defining a tongue 18. is,
The opening includes an arcuate portion 32 having an overall length of about 2.50 cm, a radius of about 0.20 cm, and a flange 1 of about 1.27 cm.
4, and a width adjacent to the base of the tongue piece 18 of approximately 0.95 cm. The tongue piece 18 is approximately
a rounded terminal portion 22 having a length of 1.27 cm, a width of approximately 0.16 cm and a length of approximately 0.32 cm; and region 30.
The neck 20 has a width of about 0.15 cm adjacent the end portion 22 and slopes outwardly to smoothly join the 0.15 cm radius of the neck.

The tape 24 with a 0.009 cm thick backing of polyester film (polytetramethylene terephthalate) having a length of 4.128 cm and a width of 1.9 cm is "Dyvax PB 722" commercially available from DuPont, Numore. Glued over the opening with a filamentous thermoplastic split polyester adhesive such as. 2.223 of a 0.0019 cm thick composite film having a layer of polyethylene terephthalate and a layer of polyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene isophthalate copolymer (with a ratio of each monomer ranging from 60/40 to 80/20) cm width x 3.81cm length sheet 3
4, a layer having a monomer ratio of 80/20 is adhered to the opening 16 and the inner surface of the can end 12 with the same adhesive adjacent to the tape 24.

The resulting container end assembly can withstand at least 6.334 Kg/cm ² (gauge pressure) of internal can pressure without rupture, and approximately 2.27 to 4.54 Kg to peel the tape from opening 16. It only requires a tensile force of . After the tape is peeled from the opening 16, a tensile force of greater than 18.16 kg is required to pull the tape 24 away from the curved tongue 18.

FIG. 8 shows different first embodiments of the can end assembly of the present invention.
Example 39 shows a can end assembly 10.
Similarly, it has a generally U-shaped cut 41 defining three sides of the openable hole, and a necked tongue 42 projecting between the sides towards the base of the cut 41. Starting from the end of the tape 43 adjacent to the can end 40 and the base of the U-shaped cut 41, the outer surface of the container end is completely wrapped around the U-shaped cut 41, which is peelable from the can end 40. a tape 43 (only a portion of which is shown), which is adhered to the inner surface of the container end 40, and a sheet 44 which surrounds and completely covers the U-shaped cut 41 and which is adhered to the inner surface of the container end 40; Surrounding sheet 44
The tape 4 is inserted through the opening of the can end 40.
It is glued to the adjacent surface of 3. The tongue 42 extends from the neck 4 between its terminal portion 46 and the end near the center.
It differs from that of can end assembly 10 in that it has a uniform width at 5 so that tape 43 can bend more easily during peeling.

FIG. 9 shows a different second can end assembly of the present invention.
Embodiment 49 is shown, which, like the other embodiments described above, includes a generally U-shaped cut 51 defining three sides of the openable hole and a cut at the base of the cut 51. a container end 50 having a tongue-like portion 52 projecting between the opposite sides, and a U-shaped cut peelable from the can end 50 starting from the end of the tape adjacent to the base of the U-shaped cut 51 A tape 53 (only a portion of which is shown) is adhered to the outer surface of the container end 50 and completely surrounds the U-shaped cut 51 and is adhered to the outer surface of the container end 50. a sheet 54 adhered to the inner surface, a portion of the sheet 54 being adhered to the adjacent surface of the tape 53 through an opening in the container end 50. The tongue 52 has a large terminal portion 55 extending the entire width between the sides of the cut 51 to aid in attaching the tongue to the tape 53.
Tongue 5 with tape 53 when peeling off 3
two narrow rectangular sections 56 along the sides of the cut 51 between the terminal section 55 and the end near the center, substantially narrower in overall width than the terminal section 55 so as to provide a bend of 2; This is different from the tongue-like portions of the other embodiments described above. When this embodiment is used in a pressurized container, the can end must be provided with a stress relief hole 57 at the end of the cut 51 to reduce stress cracking of the container end due to the internal pressure of the can.

10 and 11 show a third different embodiment 59 of the can end assembly of the present invention, which embodiment 59, like the other embodiments described above, has three sides of an openable hole. a substantially U-shaped cutting part 61 that limits the cutting part 6;
starting from the end of the tape 63 adjacent to the base of the U-cut 61, the can end 60 has a tongue 62 projecting between the sides facing the base of the can end 60;
A tape 6 completely surrounding and adhering to the outer surface of the container end 60, which can be peeled off from the U-shaped cut 61.
3 (only a portion of which is shown in FIG. 10) and a thin sheet 64 that completely surrounds and covers the U-shaped cut 61 and is adhered to the inner surface of the container end 60, and The surrounding sheet portion is the container end 60
is adhered to the adjacent surface of the tape 63 through the opening. The tongue-shaped portion 62 holds the tongue-shaped portion 62 between the tape 63 and the sheet 64, and the tongue-shaped portion 62
and the tape 63 has a uniform width sufficient to provide attachment of the tongue 62 to the tape 63 when the tape 63 is removed, and such that it bends with the tape when the tape is removed. , differs from the tongue of the previous embodiment in that its thickness is reduced in lateral regions 66 spaced along its length.

12 and 13 show a fourth different embodiment 69 of the can end assembly of the present invention, which embodiment 69, like the other embodiments described above, has three sides of an openable hole. a substantially U-shaped cutting portion 71 that limits the cutting portion 7;
a container end 70 having a tongue-like portion 72 projecting between the sides at the base of the can end 70 and peelable from the can end 7 starting from the end of the tape 73 adjacent to the base of the U-shaped cut 71; A tape 73 (only a portion of which is shown in FIG. 12) that surrounds and completely covers the U-shaped cut 71 is adhered to the outer surface of the container end 70; a sheet 74 adhered to the inner surface of the container end 70, with the portion of the sheet around the tongue 72 being adhered to the adjacent surface of the tape 73 through the opening in the container end 70. Tongue 7
2 differs from the tongue-like portions of the other embodiments described above in that it has a uniform narrow width that allows it to fold along with the tape 73 along its entire length when the tape 73 is peeled off. The container end assembly 69 has a rigid pad 76 of polymeric material between the sides of the cut 71 and between the sheet 74 and the terminal portion of the tongue, which pad is attached to the tape. 73 to the pad 76 and the surrounding of the pad 76 between the tape 73 and the portion of the sheet that remains on the tape 73 when the tape 73 is peeled off, the sheet is retained by the tape 73 when the tape 73 is peeled off. Like tongue-like part 7
Attach the end portion of No. 2 to tape 73.

Figures 14-17 illustrate a fifth different embodiment 79 of a container end assembly of the present invention;
a generally U-shaped cut 81 defining three sides of the openable hole, such as in the container end assembly 10;
A container end 80 having a necked tongue portion 82 facing the base of the cutting portion 81 and protruding between the sides, and a U-shaped cut portion 81 that is peelable from the container end 80 and completely covering it. A tape 83 is adhered to the outer surface of the container end 80 and a sheet 84 is adhered to the inner surface of the container end 80 surrounding and completely surrounding the U-shaped cut 81 . A portion of sheet 84 is adhered to the adjacent surface of tape 83 through an opening in container end 80 .

The can end assembly 79 is connected to the arcuate portion 3 of the cutting portion 16.
2, an exhaust hole 8 is provided approximately in the center of the container end 80.
It differs from can end assembly 10 in that it has 5.
Sheet 84 and tape 83 are adhered around the opposite side of exhaust hole 85 and adhesive layer 86
The tape 83 is adhered to each other through the exhaust hole 85, and the tape 83 is first peeled off from above the exhaust hole 85 and then peeled off from above the openable hole. This allows the internal pressure of the can to which the can end assembly 10 is mounted to be vented from the center of the top of the can, which in most cases is the top portion of the can, so that any gas escaping from the can is , no liquid spray is ejected through the exhaust hole 85.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the tape 8
3 completely surrounds the U-shaped cut 81 and is adhered to the outer surface of the container end 80 .
an inner portion 87 that is folded back onto itself along one edge 96 adjacent to the periphery of the 0, and an outer portion 88 that is adhered to the inner portion 87 along the edge 96. Outer portion 88 overlapping inner portion 87
is adhered over the vent hole 85 and terminates in a tab 97 having an opening through which the tape 83 can be grasped to peel it off.

As shown in the sequence of FIGS. 14, 16, and 17, the peeling is performed by first pulling the outer portion 88 of the tape 83 over the exhaust hole to remove the bonded sheet 88.
4 (FIG. 16) and the inner portion 87 of the tape is then folded back and peeled off along with the tongue 82 (FIG. 17) to open the container end assembly 79. 83, as described above, the container end 8 is placed at a position away from the face of the person drinking through the opening.
held above 0.

FIG. 18 shows a sixth different embodiment of the container end 90 of the container end assembly of the present invention, in which the container end 90, such as container end assembly 79, is shown in FIG.
has a central exhaust hole 95, a substantially U-shaped cut 91 defining three sides of the openable hole, and a necked tongue portion protruding between the sides toward the base of the U-shaped cut 91. 92. The beveled shape of the cut 91 at the end opposite the tongue 92 of the container end 90 provides greater adhesion around the end between the container end 90 and the rectangular piece of tape. This is different from the container end 80.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container end assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the above assembly attached to a container and peeled off so that the tape of the assembly is opened, and FIG. The figure is a plan view of the container end of the same assembly as above, FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 1 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the container end assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 2; FIGS. 12 is a plan view of another embodiment of the container end assembly of the present invention with most of the tape removed to show details of the tongue; FIG. 11 is a section along line 11--11 of FIG. 10; 13-13 in Fig. 12
14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the container end assembly of the present invention, FIG. 15 is a plan view of the same container end, and FIGS. 16 and 7 are 1 in Figure 14 where the tape is peeled off to open it.
6-16, FIG. 18 shows a partial sectional view of another embodiment of the container end. 10, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79... Container end assembly, 12, 40, 50, 60, 70, 8
0,90...Container end, 16,41,51,6
1, 71, 81, 91... cutting section, 18, 42,
52, 62, 72, 82, 92... Tongue-shaped portion (tongue piece), 20, 45... Neck, 22, 46, 55...
...Terminal part, 24, 43, 53, 63, 73, 8
3...Tape, 26,97...Tab, 34,4
4, 54, 64, 74, 84... sheet, 56...
... rectangular portion, 66 ... thin thickness lateral region, 7
6...Hard pad, 85...Exhaust hole, 86...Adhesive layer, 87, 88...Tape inside, outside part.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An end of a container having an opening therethrough, and a tape completely covering the opening and attached to the outer surface of the container, the end of the tape adjacent to one side of the opening. is not attached and has a tab that can be grasped by hand.
In a container assembly in which the tape can be removed by manually pulling the tab, the container ends 12, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 9
0 is made of a flexible sheet material that will undergo a permanent set when bent sufficiently;
The container end includes a tongue 18, 42, 52, 6 along at least a portion of the opening defining an openable aperture of the container end assembly.
2, 72, 82, 92, the tongue projecting towards the unattached end of the tape 24, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83 and between the sides of the cut. The container end assembly 10, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79 further includes the container end 12, 40, 50, 60, 70, 8.
0 and the cut portions 16, 41, 5
1, 61, 71, 81 completely covered sheet 34,
44, 54, 64, 74, 84, the tongue is attached to the tape and is foldable with the tape and is capable of creating a permanent set during peeling of the tape, thereby retaining the peeled tape close to the container end, wherein shear adhesion between the tape and the bent tongue limits separation of the tape from the container end; container end assembly. 2 said tongue portion 18, 42, 52, 82 has a large distal portion 22, 46 attached to said tape;
55, and portions 20, 45, 56, which are located between the base portion and the end portion and have a width smaller than the end portion, to facilitate bending of the tongue portion. Container end assembly as described in paragraph. 3 Said tongue-shaped portion 18, 42, 52, 62, 7
2, 82 passes through the opening and connects the tape 24, 43, 53, 6.
3, 73, and 83, and the sheet is cut off at the cut portion when the tape is peeled off, and the tongue remains attached to the tape when the tape is peeled off. 3. A container end assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the portion of the sheet covering the tongue serves to keep the tongue attached to the tape. 4 further comprising a sheet 74 attached to the inner surface of the container end and completely covering the cut 71, with a portion of the sheet around the tongue 72 passing through the opening and facing the tape 73; a hard pad that adheres to the surface and is separated along the cut when the tape is peeled off, and that is located within the cut and between the sheet 74 and the end of the tongue. 76, wherein portions of said pad and said sheet cover said tongue while attached to said tape and serve to keep said tongue attached to said tape. A container end assembly according to paragraph 1. 5. The tongue 62 includes a large distal portion attached to the tape and has a spacing portion 66 between the distal portion and the base, the spacing portion for facilitating bending of the tongue. The container end assembly of claim 1, wherein the container end assembly is thinner than the end portion. 6. The container end 80 has a generally central vent hole 85 with an inner portion 87 to which the tape 83 is affixed over the opening and between this inner portion 87 and the tab 97. The container end assembly of claim 1 including an outer portion (88) overlying said inner portion (87) and affixed over said vent hole (85). 7. The container end assembly 79 further includes a sheet 84 attached to an inner surface of the container end 80 to completely cover the cutout 81 and the vent 85, and the sheet 84 around the tongue 82. A portion of the sheet passes through the opening and the vent hole 85 and adheres to the opposite side of the tape, and the sheet 84 is inserted along the cut and around the vent hole 85 as the tape is removed. The portion of the sheet 84 that covers the tongue while remaining attached to the tape when the tape is removed serves to keep the tongue attached to the tape. A container end assembly according to claim 6.